Handle for pipe cleaners



Nov. 25, 1930. c. FISCHER HANDLE FOR PIPE CLEANERS Filed May 19, 1927 Patented Nov. 25, 1930 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ensures FISCHER, F nnw onnvn. Y.

' HANDLE non rrrn orgirlennns Application. filed May 19,1927. Serial m1 l92,639.

My invention relates to a metal leaf gripby the hand of the operator.

One of the objects of my invention isto provide a simple form of gripping handles.

in which a gripping jaw is stamped in each handle, each leaf of the handle although of thin metal being so constructed as to pro vide a stiff but easily compressible grip.

Another of the objects of'my invention is to provide a gripping handle thruwhich the ribbon attached to a sewerpipe cleaner may pass, with means whereby the handles are normally held loosely together at their gripping ends, and with a leafspring for normally pressing the handles widely apart 2 at their outer-ends, the leaf spring being mit the ribbon attached to a pipe cleaner to freely pass thru it. q j With the above and other objects in View,

my invention consists in the parts, improve- 9 ments and combinations more fully pointed out hereinafter. j o

Turning now to the drawings; Figure 1, is'a perspective View showing the handle in position on the ribbon attached 5 to a sewer pipe cleaner. 7 j

Figure 2, isa perspective view showing the gripping handle and "the spring means for holding the handles apart. Figure 3, is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the gripping jaws, and Figure 4, is a side elevation of the handle, showing the ribbon of the pipe cleaner passing thru the spring and between the Il 1n aws. 4 b I I 1 th% drawings the gripping handle is shown comprising a pair of spring steel leaves 1, 2. Stamped in each handle leaf near one end is a transverse gripping jaw 3, 4, the gripping jaws being formed out of the metal of the handles.

cut-out intermediate its ends, so as to pertheir outer ends they fit hand, although As illustrated, means are provided for normally loosely connecting the handles together near t-hegripping ends. As shown in the drawings, these connectingmeans comprise a pair of hooks 5, 5 provided in the handle 2, which separately engage eyes 6,

7 of the handle 1. The elements ofthe connecting meansare laterally spaced apartso as-to allow the ribbon 15 of a pipe cleaner 16, to pass between them and also" to pass between the handles, see Figure 1.

Means are provided for normally holding the handles apart, slightly apart at their gripping ends and 'more widely apart at their outer ends. 3.

Intheform shown this means consists of a leaf spring 8, see Figures 2 and 4, one end of which is rigidly secured to the handle 2,- preferably by a rivet 9. A pin and slotconnectionis provided for connecting the other,

or distal end of the spring 8, withthe handle 1, one end, the distal end, being slotted as at 10, and engaging a pin 11, carried by the handle 1'." By means of the pin and slot connection, when the handle is closed, the slotted end ofthe spring may move sliding? along the handlelongitudinally, and the spring may thus be flexed. Thespring 8, is curved near each end, so that each'end of the spring will lie in the plane of the handle to which it is secured. It thus fits the handle when sliding along it. The spring 8, as shown in Figure 2, is provided with a cut-out portion, 12, intermediate itsends Thewidtli if this cut-out portion is such as to allow the 5 ribbon of a pipe cleaner to freely pass thru it, and it is of such a length that the com-. 'pression of the spring, whenthe jaws are closed, will notcause the spring tofco'ntact with the ribbon and retard the gripping action. The cut-out portion also prevents bodily displacement ofthe ribbon.

The handles 1 and 2, are constructed of spring metal. The longitudinal curvature of thehandles is such that they closelyadjoin at their gripping ends, beingseparated only substantially a sufiicient'distance to allow the ribbon of the sewer pipe cleaner to freely pass between them, when they are open. At

more widely separated. The handles are preferably also curved transversely to increase stiffness and to provide a good hand grip.

Having thus described the invention and its construction, its operation will be clear. The handle is first placed in position by passing the distal end of the ribbon, whose other end carries the sewer pipe cleaner, thru the handle at the gripping ends, the leaves of which are loosely connected, and between the gripping aws, which are also apart, thru the cut-out portion of the leaf spring, and rearwardly between the handles. With the handle in place and the cleaner ready for use, the desired length of ribbon is allowed to be paid out, passing thru the handle and the separated gripping aws, whereupon the operator presses upon the handles, flexes the leaf spring and the transverse gripping aws approach each other and bite the ribbon, holdingit firmly and preventing any more ribbon passing thru the handle, the user holding the handles so as to grip the ribbon, so that l may then perform the pipe cleaning operation.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction of the gripping handle, in carrying the invention into effect, without departing from the principle thereof.

hat I claim is:

l. A gripping handle for sewer pipe cleaners or the like comprising, a pair of coacting metal gripping handles, each provided with a transverse gripping jaw, one of said handles provided with a pair of laterally spaced hooks, the other handle provided with laterally spaced eyes, with which said hooks separately and loosely engage, the lateral spacing between the hooks permitting the ribbon attached to a pipe cleaner to pass between them, and a spring secured to one of said handles and engaging the other handle so as to normally press said handles and said gripping jaws apart.

2. A metal gripping handle for sewer pipe cleaners or the like comprising a pair of coacting gripping handles, each of said handles being provided with a transverse gripping jaw, and each handle comprising a metallic leaf, curved transversely and longitudinally to fit the hand, spaced hook and eye connections carried by the handles for joining them loosely together at their gripping ends, and a leaf spring having a cut-out portion intermediate its ends, said spring secured to one of said handles and a pin and slot connection for securing the distal end of the spring to the other handle, said spring normally holding the outer ends of the handles apart.

3. A gripping handle for sewer pipe cleaners or the like comprising a pair of coacting gripping leaves, each provided with a transverse gripping jaw stamped in the handle, each handle being of metal curved to fit the hand, connections carried by the handles for loosely connecting them at their gripping ends, and a spring secured to one of said handles and engaging the other handle by means of a pin and slot connection, said spring normally holding the outer ends of the handles apart, the spring being curved near its ends to lit the handles, and having a cut-out portion intermediate its ends thru which the ribbon attached to a pipe cleaner may pass.

4. A gripping handle, comprising a pair of coactlng metal gripping handles, each provided with a transverse gripping jaw stamped in one end of the handle, one of said handles provided with a pair of laterally spaced hooks, the other handle provided with laterally spaced eyes with which said hooks separately and loosely engage, so that the ribbon attached to a pipe cleaner may pass between said connecting means and between the gripping jaws, and a spring secured to one handle and slidingly engaging the other handle by means of a pin and slot connection, said spring normally pressing said handles and gripping jaws apart, said handles being curved longitudinally so that their gripping ends adjoin and so that their outer ends are separated, so as to provide a hand grip and means for exerting clamping pressure.

5. A gripping handle for sewer pipe cleaners or the like, comprising a pair of coacting metal gripping handles, each provided with a transverse gripping jaw in one end of the handle, connecting means for loosely connecting the handles at said gripping jaws, said means being spaced apart so as to permit the ribbon attached to a pipe cleaner to pass between them, and a spring secured to one of said handles and engaging the other handle to normally press said handles and gripping jaws apart, said spring being provided with a longitudinally elongated slot so as to permit the ribbon of the pipe cleaner to pass through it.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES FISCHER. 

